SFA @ Sub29

I just realised I never actually posted about the three gigs the Super Furries played at sub29 in Cardiff. Originally billed to play just Thursday's gig, they added Tuesday and Wednesday due to the ridiculous demand for tickets. I hesitated and missed out on a ticket for Thursday but managed to get hold of a couple for Wednesday's gig.

It was a 550-mile round trip for me with an overnight stay in Cardiff but it was well worth the time and money. Didn't have much time to sight-see in Cardiff, which was a shame but, on the plus side, I did see both Bunf and Gruff in the street prior to the gig (Gruff in a fetching orange boiler suit). My boyfriend went all fan-girl at the sight of Gruff (the only Furry he'd actually recognise) and seemed more excited than even I was...

The gig was fantastic, although I don't think the venue was that good. The UEA LCR in Norwich is just as small, if not smaller, and the sound quality there is much better. Despite a few sound issues, they were good-humoured and energetic and whipped the crowd into a bit of a frenzy. It wasn't the greatest gig in SFA-history but it was intimate and they were obviously happy to be playing to their home town.

Other people have complained that they just played DD/LY all the way through and didn't have a very varied set. I didn't think that was a bad thing. They were there to promote the album after all and they're warm up gigs for their festival dates later in the year, so they have to practice the new material as much as possible. Plus, the encore that everyone in the front row knew was coming, as we could see the setlist, was absolutely fantastic. Slow Life, RATW, Juxtaposed with U, TMDGAF and, my personal favourite, Keep the Cosmic Trigger Happy. Great way to end the gig and everyone was singing along at the top of their voices.

As for DD/LY, I think a few of those songs could become staples of the Furry live gig. The Very Best of Neil Diamond, Where Do You Wanna Go?, Moped Eyes and Inconvenience all stomped along and show just how raw and rocky this album is compared to their earlier albums. Cardiff in the Sun I think suffered the most from the venue's hit-and-miss sound but come the summer time, at outdoor gigs (Somerset House!), I think it will really come into it's own. Would be fab to hear it actually played in the sun...

Overall, well, it was groovy. What more can I say.

Oh yeah, and I took some pictures. Yes, they are all Gruff but he was the only one I could see to get a good picture of. Honest.











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